The 2012-13 performance series had 132 season ticket holders — an increase from the inaugural season’s 123. Individually, there were 5,260 tickets sold with the majority, 69.9 percent, to Stuttgart residents. DeWitt residents bought 4.6 percent of tickets followed by residents of Almyra with 3.6 percent, Little Rock with 2.3 percent and Humphrey with 2.1 percent.

The performance series held a three-show increase from the inaugural season, although the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, which sold 536 tickets in the 2011-2012 season, remained in the top five bestselling shows. There were 13 shows overall.

Country music legend John Conlee sold the most tickets this season at 619 followed by Jerrod Niemann at 561 tickets. Rounding out the top five spots in ticket sales were the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at 538, “Fiddler on the Roof” at 533 and Masters of Motown at 441.

It’s a success that Horton contributes to several factors. First, she said there is a “core group of people” coming to the shows including season ticket holders who tend to bring guests and visitors.

Another factor is external marketing. Horton said she attended the Pine Bluff Business Expo where residents could sign up for the center’s patron list for free tickets. The center also advertised in newspapers statewide as well as target marketing in direct mail pieces to residents ranging from West Little Rock to Searcy to Stuttgart.

“I tried to market on a statewide basis,” Horton said.

Ticket sales showed the marketing worked even with the majority of ticket sales sold to residents within Arkansas County or the nearby vicinity. Tickets sales were spread thinly across the state as well as Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

Overall, Horton said the center did well with a variety of entertainment that attracted a diverse audience. The shows were also “entertaining, but educational.”

The highlights, for Horton, included a bagpipe solo in the Women of Ireland performance where there was silence as people listened. Later, she said she received plenty of positive feedback.

“I thought by far the most exciting experience was ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’” Horton said. “Everyone walked out excited about what they had seen. It was a true Broadway show. John Conlee also did a good job. He identified with the audience and everyone loved him. He was personable and sounded amazing.”

There were no main problems with the just-ended season, although Horton said they did give away seats for the three performances — “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Arkansas Tales” and “The Just So Stories” — given by the Children’s Theatre of the Arkansas Arts Center.

The three performances were among the lowest in ticket sales, which Horton contributed to the center hosting free performances for students in the nearby private and public schools.

As a result, Horton said they would no longer be hosting public showings of the Children’s Theatre performances.

The next three shows — “The Velveteen Rabbit,” “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “The Engine That Thought It Could” — will instead be separated from the 2013-2014 performance series as the center’s ongoing educational offerings only.

Horton said it’s performances she believes are important to provide for students, several of whom have never seen a live performance before. She said, in each performance, the students were “good. Their eyes were glued to the show. They laughed at the appropriate times so you know they were paying attention.”

The Children’s Theatre shows’ subtraction will leave the upcoming season with nine shows that will be performed typically on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Horton said springtime Saturday nights were the best time for performances with the John Conlee performance being the best example.

“Overall, we were pleased with the crowds we got on a variety of nights,” Horton said, adding that the upcoming season is “coming together. More and more people are learning of the center and attending the events."We are staying with kid-friendly shows," Horton said. "We want to market an all family experience."

The upcoming shows will be revealed Thursday, June 13, in a private party to thank and welcome past and future season ticket holders. To learn more about season tickets, contact Horton at (870) 673-1400 ext. 1896.

The 2013-2014 performance series will be featured in the Stuttgart Daily Leader on Friday, June 14.